One of three people charged with the murder of a young Penticton couple more than three years ago had his trial on stolen property charges scheduled for next week at the Penticton Courthouse postponed.

Simon Bourbannais was set to go on trial on one count of possession of stolen property under $5,000 on Dec. 10 and 11.

However, that case has now been adjourned after Judge Lynett Jung reluctantly granted an adjournment after hearing the key witness in this case would be unable to testify next week as he will be on vacation in Mexico.

Bourbannais’ lawyer Sandra Mandanici told the court Monday via videoconference she will be filing an application under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in relation to “undue delay.”

This postponement will delay the trial for her client past the 18-month limit established by the Supreme Court of Canada a couple of years ago to have charges on crimes this accused is facing proceed to trial in a timely manner.

Photo credit: Facebook/Chantelle Desjarlais Mitchell/Kettle Valley Memorial Services Douglas BarkerAlannah Brown (right) and Douglas Barker.

Court heard Bourbannais was charged with possession of stolen property in June of 2024 and was released.

However, he remains in custody after being charged this past July with serious crimes in relation to the deaths of Alannah Brown and Douglas Barker, both age 30, who were found dead between Penticton and Trout Creek on Sept. 15, 2022.

In July 2025, Bourbonnais was charged with manslaughter in Brown’s death, along with accessory after the fact to the murder of both Barker and Brown. He has also been charged with confinement of Brown and indignity to human remains of both victims.

In court Monday, Crown prosecutor Christine Legault, speaking via videoconference call, told the court she was recently handed the Bourbannais file by a previous Crown lawyer.

Mandanici said her client was charged almost 17 months ago on the stolen property count and any further delay would prejudice his right to a speedy trial and an adjournment would “definitely cause prejudice” to Bourbannais.

Her client was also willing to change from having his trial heard in English, rather than his original decision to have a trial in the French language, if it meant this matter would go to trial next week, said Mandanici.

Legault has known since the first week in September the RCMP officer would not be available to testify as he would be on vacation in Mexico on Dec. 10 and 11.

“There has definitely been neglect on this file,” she said.

Justice Jung said she was “disappointed” at the tone of discussions presented in court between the Crown and defence counsel at Monday’s hearing.

Under all the circumstances, said she had no choice but to grant the adjournment request.